(Mishnah - R. Meir): If we do not know the gender, she sits for [the stringencies of Yoledes] Zachar and Nekevah. Chachamim say, non-human forms are not considered children.

Wherever it says that she sits for Zachar and Nekevah, she has 14 days of Tum'ah, and 26 Tehorim (Dam Tohar). We give to her the stringencies of a male and a female.

Limitation: (In our Mishnah, Chachamim say, non-human forms are not considered children, i.e. she is not a Yoledes.) This is for her husband, but for Taharos, she sits for Nekevah. (We explained this like PANIM ME'IROS.)

Note: PANIM ME'IROS explained that this refers to Chachamim, because we are always more stringent about Taharos than for her husband. If so, surely We must say that 'she sits for Nekevah' means that she is considered Tamei for two weeks, but we do not give to her the leniency of Dam Tohar (PF).

Opinion #1 (R. Chaninah brei d'R. Avahu): R. Meir's reason is because "Yetzirah'' is written about [Behemos, Chayos and birds], like it says about man - "va'Yitzer Hash-m Elokim Es ha'Adam Afar Min ha'Adamah.''

Question (R. Ami): Is it because "Yetzirah'' is written about Behemos - "va'Yitzer Hash-m Elokim Min ha'Adamah Kol Chayas ha'Sadeh v'Es Kol Ohf ha'Shamayim''?

It is written "Ki Hinei Yotzer Harim u'Vorei Ru'ach'' - if so, one who was Mapeles the form of a mountain should be Tamei like a Yoledes!

Answer: There is different, for "Yetzirah'' is not written about [mountains] from the initial creation of the world.

Opinion #2 (R. Yosah citing R. Yochanan): [R. Meir's reason is] because [animals and birds] look forwards, like man.

Opinion #3 (Aba bar bar Chanah citing R. Yochanan): It is because they walk forwards, like man.

Question (R. Bun bar Chiyah - Mishnah): If the eye [of an animal] is round, like a man's, this is a blemish. (This shows that their eyes are different!)

Answer (R. Yosi): We learned (those opinions said) that they look forwards or walk forwards. What is difficult if man's eyes are round, and animals' eyes are long?!

(R. Yosi bei R. Bun): In man, there is more white [in the eye] than black. In animals, there is more black than white.

(R. Chagai citing R. Chananyah): The colleagues of Rabanan asked, according to R. Meir, if she was Mapeles the form of a raven [and it flew, and it is] standing on top of a date tree, [will you say that it is human,] and he says to him 'come, do Chalitzah or Yibum'?!

Objection (R. Mana): Rather than challenging R. Meir, challenge Rabanan!

(R. Yosa citing R. Yochanan): [If a fetus is] entirely human, just its face is like an animal, it is not a child. If it is entirely animal, just its face is like a human, it is a child.

When he is entirely human, just his face is like an animal, he is standing and reading in the Torah - will we tell him 'come, and we will slaughter you [for you are an animal]'?!

When he is entirely animal, just his face is human, he is standing and plowing in the field - will we tell him 'come, do Chalitzah or Yibum'?! (Rather, the Tana'im discuss only Tum'as Yoledes. Surely the child will not live.)

(R. Yosa citing R. Yochanan): Not only if all of the Simanim [on the face are human], rather, even if one of the Simanim [is human, it is a child].

Note: The Gemara now brings the teaching concerning which R. Yosah said so.

These are the Simanim - the forehead, eyebrows, eye, ear, jaw, nose, beard, and pores [from which come out hairs] of the beard.

(R. Yosa citing R. Yochanan): Not only if all of the Simanim, rather, even one of the Simanim.